Wringer



Nov. 10, 1936. c. B. wlLLiAMs WRINGER Filed sept'. 21, 19s; 1

4 sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 10, 1936. c, E, Mums 2,060,710

WRINGER Filed Sept. 21, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 H F14. 5 v 4-+ .w l 7+ M ...44+

Nov. 10, 1936. c. B, WILLIAMS 2,060,710

WRINGER Filed Sept. 2l, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 @m i fs' Y @Y l JMW i NOV. 10, 1936-. c, B, w|| |AMs 2,060,710

WRINGER Filed Sept. 2l, 1953 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 25 FIG. 6

0 FIG. 9

@JM 0456A @ma @lime/13 Patented Nov. 10, 1936 UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE wmNGER charles B. williams, shaker Heights, ohio Y Application September 21, 1933, Serial No. 690,374

.V 46 Claims.

This invention relates to a wringer for laundry purposes, and especially to a household laundry wringer which utilizes rotating pressure rolls to squeeze the water from the garments. This case is a continuation in part of applicants copending cases 503,891 and 518,415, led December 22, 1.930, and February 26, 1931, respectively.

The general object of this invention, therefore, is to provide a wringer of the rotary pressure roll type, which will prevent injury to the operator, and which will permit the operator to straighten the clothes and x the buttons without fear ofl injury.

A further object is to provide a wringer of the rotary pressure roll type, which may be powerdriven and wherein material may be selectively fed from either of two opposite faces without the employment of clutches, reverse gear mechanisms, etc.

A more specific object is to provide a Wringer having a pair of pressure rolls and auxiliary-rolls, which are arranged to feed material into the bite of the pressure rolls with suitable mechanism to control and guide the material entering and passing from the bites of the various rolls.

Another object of the present invention is t provide an efcient wringing mechanism which eliminates the multiplicitypf controls such as clutches, reverse gears, etc., found in the ordinary wringer, and so construct such improved wringer as to render it safe for unskilled operation, and which wringer at the same time will be extremely durable and readily used in connection with power washing machines.

Other objects of this invention will become more apparent4 from the following .description relating to the accompanying drawings, the essential novel characteristics thereof will be summarized in the claims.

In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a plan view of my im-4 proved wringer; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the wringer, shown in Fig. 1, mounted-imposition on a washing machine; Fig. 3 is a vertical section as indicated by the lines 3 3 on Fig. 1; Figs. 4, 5, 6 and 7 are transverse vertical sections, as indicated by the correspondingly numbered lines on Figs. 1

and 3; Figs. 8 and 9 lare longitudinal horizontal sections, as indicated by the correspondingly numbered lines on Fig. 4; Fig. 10 is a detail section, as indicated by lthe lines |0|0 on Fig. 9.

Referring again to the drawings, it will be noted that my improved wringer comprises a frame, generally indicated at |5, which houses a pair of wringer or pressure rolls I0 and and a pair of auxiliary rolls I2 and I4, one of which is associated with eachwringer roll, and so mounted that they may be separated therefrom.

As shown in the drawings, the wringer frame comprises a pair of spaced end members 20, which are joined together by suitable cross frame mem- 5 bers, such as the webs 2| and 22. I prefer to form these frame'members' as one unit, such as, a casting, for instance. 'I'he upper face of the frame is open and is provided with a frame cap or cover 23, pivoted at 24 to the main frame I5, so that it may be lrocked from' the position shown in full lines in Fig. 5 to the position shown in the dotted lines. .'Ihe purpose of this rocking movement will be hereinafter more fully described.

As shown in Figs. 2 and 9, the left-hand frame member is provided with a boss-like extension 26, arranged to be sec ed by means of lsuitable bolts |21 to the uppermousing |28 of a driving mechanism, similar to that used in present-day wringers, and therefore not described in detail. 20

This housing |28 serves to support the wringer in the same manner as in washing machines of the present-day construction.

The rolls I0 and which are the pressure rolls, are mounted in the same horizontal plane, 25 instead of in a vertical plane, as has been customary in the past.` The rolls I0 and comprise the usual rubber wringer rolls 2l, which are rigidly secured to suitable shafts 28 and 29.- The shafts 28 and 29 are so mounted that the 30 rolls are resiliently urged into contact with each other in a horizontal plane. As shown in Figs. 4 and 6, each end of the shaft 29 of the rear wringer roll is mounted in a bushing 30. The bushings 30 are supported by suitable bearing members 3|, which in turn are rigidly secured by suitable screw bolts 32 to the frame cap 23 heretofore mentioned. The forward wringer roll I0 is mounted at either end in bushings 34, which are supported by bearing blocks 35. The bearing blocks 35 are carried on respective studs 36,

each of which is slidably mounted in respective socket members 31, which are pivoted on a rod or cross-framemember 38, in such a manner that the roll may swing about thev pivot which lies slightly below the horizontal plane passing through the axis of the two pressure rolls, when the latter are in their normal position as shown in Fig. 4. Y l.

The pressure roll I 0 is normally urged into 50 contact with the pressure roll by a pair of comparatively strong compression springs 39, which embrace respective studs 36. One end of each spring bears against the respective bearing block v the bearings may 40 formed on the respective pivoted bearing members 3l heretofore mentioned. The arrangement is such that the spring 39 is normally in compression and by adjusting the stud 36 the pressure between the two rolls I and I I is readily adjusted.

The pressure rolls I0 and II are normally retained in a position with their axes substantially in the same horizontal piane. As shown in Fig. 4 the roll I I is carried by the pivoted frame cover 23, which is normally retained in contact with the main frame I5 by a pair of latches 42 positioned adjacent opposite ends of the frame. The latches 42 arefrigidly secured to opposite ends of a rock shaft 43, supported by the bearings 44 carried by the cover 23. Each latch 42 extends downwardly from the rock shaft 40 and is provided at its lower end with a hook-like nose 45 to engage respective pins 46 carried by opposite end walls of the main frame I5. A suitable spring 4'I embraces the shaft 43 and is arranged so that one end of the spring coacts with the cover 23 and the other end engages one of the latches 42. This spring acts toretain the latches 42 in engagement with their respective pins 46, thereby maintaining the cover 23 in engagement with the main frame I5.

The position of the pressure roll II is fixed relative to the cover 23 by reason of its bearings 32 being secured to the cover plate, as heretofore described. The pressure roll I0 is pivoted on pins 36 heretofore mentioned and which are carried by the main frame l5. Each bearing member 35, which supports the roll II, is provided with a pin 48 which engages a wearing plate 49, secured to the cover 23 by bolts 32 heretofore described. The pin 48 is of such a height that it permits the roll III to lie slightly above a plane passing through the pivots 38 of the pressure roll I0 and the axis of the other pressure roll II. The purpose of this arrangement will be hereinafter more fully described. The lower surface of the bearing block 35 engages the upper surface of respective bracket membersv 50 which are rigidly secured to the main frame I5 by suitable bolts 5I. This arrangement positively locates the axis of the roll I0 and prevents such roll from swinging about its pivot when the cover 23 is retained in its normal or closed position by the latches 42.

The auxiliary rolls I2 and I4 are positioned beneath, and are arranged to coact with, respective pressure rolls to guide the clothes or material into the bite of the pressure rolls III and II. The rolls I2 and I4 are made of any softer suitable material. However, I prefer to use a material that is used for the pressure roll, preferably rubber, so that should the operators iingers be caught between an auxiliary roll and its respective pressure roll, there will be no substantial injury.

Each auxiliary roll is rigidly secured to a suitable shaft 60, which is journalled at one end in a bearing 6I and at the other end in a bearing 62. The bearings 6I of both auxiliary roll shafts are carried by the bearing blocks 63, while y 62 of such shafts are carried by a bearing block 64. Each bearing block 63 and 64 supports respective ends of both auxiliary roll shafts and maintains the axis of these rolls xed relative to each other.

The auxiliary rolls are so mounted that they be raised and lowered relative to the pressure rolls. In addition to the raising and lowering movements, the auxiliary rolls may be rocked end for end in a substantially universal man-- ner. For this purpose the auxiliary roll shafts 6I are slidably mounted in their respective bearzings and the bearing blocks 63 and 64 are mounted in such a manner as to permit them to ide and rock in the frame. As shown in Figs. 4 and 6, the bearing blocks 63 and 64 are mounted in the respective frame brackets 50, heretofore mentioned.

Each bracket 50 comprises a lower member 52 which is secured to the base of the main frame I5 by suitable bolts 52a and is provided with a pair of upwardly extending arms 53, which are arranged to embrace opposite ends of respective bearing blocks 63 and 64. The arms of the lower member 52 are bridged by a suitable cap 55 which is secured in position by suitable bolts 5I which coact with the frame and other bolts 5Ia which coact with the lower bracket member 52.

The bearing blocks 63 and 64 are provided at opposite ends with pin-like extensions 65, which project into the slots 66 formed in the arms 53 of the lower bracket member. This construction permits the bracket members of the bearing blocks 63 and 64 to move upwardly or downwardly individually or simultaneously in their respective bracket members. It likewise permits the bearing blocks to rock substantially universally in the plane of their respective slots 66 and within the confines of their respective bracket member 50.

The auxiliary rolls I2 and I4 rotate in the direction of the arrows shown in Fig. '1. The driving mechanism causing such rotation will be hereinafter more fully described. However, it will be noted in this construction that the material may be fed from either the vertical face I8 or the opposite vertical face I9 of the wringer into the bite of the pressure roll I0 and its auxiliary roll l2 or as shown in Fig. 7, or into the bite of the'auxiliary roll II and its associated auxiliary roll I4. As shown in Fig. 7, the material is being fed between the bite of the righthand set of rolls, namely, the pressure roll II and the auxiliary roll I4.- The action of these rolls is such as will cause the material to pass inwardly towards the center of the wringer where it is gripped by the pressure rolls I0 and I I and carried upwardly between the bite of such pressure rolls and ejected from the top of the wrlnger.

A suitable guide or stripping member 10 is provided to strip the material from the auxiliary rolls I2 or I4 and cause such material to enter the bite of the two pressure rolls. As shown in Figs. 3, 4, 7, 9 and l0 there is a guide 10 comprising a longitudinally extending bar, which is mounted in the space between the four rolls and has a downwardly extending portion 1I which projects between the two auxiliary rolls and outwardly extending portions or stripping edges 12 and 13, which engage the auxiliary rolls I2 and I4 respectively to strip the material therefrom.

The guide III is mounted in the bearing blocks 53 and 64, and therefore will follow the movement of the auxiliary rolls and the edges 12 and 13 of the guide will remain in contact with their respective rolls. The guide I0, bridging, as it does, the gap between the two auxiliary rolls, thus prevents the material from dropping or from being carried downwardly between such rolls, and together with the direction of rotation of the various rolls, causes such materialto enter the bite of the two pressure rolls.

The guide 18 extends the full length of the rolls and is provided on either end with an extension or ear 14, each of which is mounted between corresponding pairs of outwardly lextending arms 15 carried by the bearing brackets 83 and 84. It will be noted that the guide 14 rests by its own weight upon the auxiliary roll. Hence, any variation in the diameter of the rolls, due to climatic conditions or to wear, is automatically compensated for. The slot 16 between the arms l of each bearing block 83 or 64 is readily capped by a suitable cap member 18a. which serves to prevent excessive upward movement of the guide member and aids materially in the assembling of the structure. It will be noted thateach slot 16 extendsl some distance above and 'below the respective extensions 14 of the guide. Hence, if for any reason material should become wedged or caught between the guide and the roll, the guide will readily rise in the slot, preventing any damage to the material.

It will be noted from Fig. 7 that the guide is in the form of a ridge having an upwardly projecting ridge-like portion 11, which projects upwardly toward the two pressure rolls I8 and II. The surface of the guide between the upwardly extending ridge 11 and the two stripping edges 12 and 13 are curved to substantially follow the contour of the pressure rolls I0 and I I. However, this guide may be of substantially any shape which contacts with the two auxiliary rolls and bridges the gap therebetween.

The auxiliary rolls I2 and I4, together with the guide member 18, are normally urged upwardly so that the auxiliary rolls contact their respective pressure rolls I8 and II through their entire lengths. ,As shown in Figs. 4 and 6, suitable compression springs 18 are carried in recesses in the lower bracket members 58 and seat in suitable recesses in the lower surface of the the respective bearing blocks 63 or 84.' These springs 18 are comparatively light and of sufficient strength only to maintain contact between the rolls and to maintain a driving relationship therebetween so that material will feed into the bite of the two pressure rolls. Hence, if the operators fingers are at any time caughtbetween an auxiliary roll and its respective pressure roll they may be readily withdrawn without any danger whatsoever.

I further provide my improved wringer with an additional safety device, which automatically releases the pressure between the various rolls when either one or the other of the auxiliary rolls is depressed a predetermined distance, which distance is, of course, greater than the distance that the roll is ordinarily depressed during normal wringing operations. I have likewise arranged this mechanism so that the pressure between the two pressure rolls and between the auxiliary rolls and the corresponding pressure rolls may be manually released at anytime by the operator to prevent injury or anticipated injury to either the operator or to the material being fed to the Wringer.

'Ihe manual release-enables thel operator to The lower edge of each plunger 8D la provided with an enlarged shoulder-'like portion 82 which engages respective outwardly lextending arms 83 pressure roll II, and the pressure roll I0 upwardly, relieving substantially all pressure be,

tween the rolls. As. heretofore mentioned, the axis of the pressure roll I 8 isslightly above aplane passing through the pivots 38 of the pressure roll I0 and the axis of the pressure roll II. Hence, the action of the compression spring439 is such as to force the pressure roll I8 upwardly.

I ilnd that when my improved wringer is released, the action of the compression spring 39, due to itsl strength, causes the cap member 23, together with the roll II, to ily open with considerable speed. This condition is desirable, as it makes the release practically instantaneous. However, I find it advantageous to limit the movement of the cover 23 to prevent damage to the parts. For this purpose there is pivotally mounted on the cap member 23 a pair of de\ pending hook-like members 84 which, when the cover is in raised position, as shown in dotted lines in Fig 5, engage pins 86 carried by the end plate members of the frame 23. ,Ihese hooklike members are normally retained in contact with their respective pins by suitable springs such as that shownin Fig 5, at 86a.'

After the wringer has been released, it may readily be returned to normal position by merely presslngdownwardly upon the cap member. For this purpose, the latches 42 are provided at their lower ends with camming surfaces 81,

which engage the pins 48 heretofore described and cam the latches back into position, permitting the springs 41 to restore the latch to a latched position, thereby again locking the wringer in its normal and operative position. Consequent upon an excess or abnormal separation of an auxiliary roll fromT its associated pressure roll, the pressure between thevarious rolls will be automatically released. To accomplish this, each bearing block 63 and 64 is provided with outwardly extending lugs 88 (Figs. 4, 5 and 9). These lugs normally overlie inwardly extending arms of bell cranks 89 which are rigidly secured to a rock shaft 90 supported in bearing extensions 9I (Fig. 6) of the bearing bracket 50. Each of the bell cranks 89 is provided with an upwardly extending arm 9I which arms are arranged to engage lips 92 of their respective latch members 42. Hence, when the pressure roll or an' auxiliary roll has been separated from its associated pressure roll a distance which would cause the lugs 88 to coact with the bell crank'89, the latter will rock in a clockwise direction, Fig. 5, against the action of the spring 94. The upper arms 9| of the bell crank will then rock the latch members 42 counter-clockwise, disengaging them from their respective locking pins 46, thereby permitting the springs 39 and I8 to separate the rolls, as heretofore described in connection with the manual release.

The rotation of the rolls may be operated from any suitable power mechanism, well known, such as, for instance, a vertically extending power shaft IUD, carried in a suitable casing IDI, which risesabove the tub |02 of the usual washing machine. Mounted on top of the housing IOI is a gear box I I I, in which is mounted a bevelled gear IIZ, which is rigidly secured to the power shaft |00 and meshes with a similar bevelled gear ||3 mounted on a shaft |I4 which is supported in suitable bearings and enclosed within the housingIII.

As shown in Figs. 2, 5, 8 and 9, the shaft ||4 extends inwardly through the end walls of the wringer frame I5. Rigidly secured to the inner end of the shaft ||4 by a suitable bolt ||5 is a spur gear I I6, arranged to mesh with a spur gear I I1, which is rigidly Vsecured to' the shaft 29 of the pressure roll II. This arrangement provides a direct drive from the power shaft to the pressure roll without the use of any clutches, reverse gear or similar mechanism. p

The requirement of a reverse gear drive is entirely eliminated by the roll arrangement which permits the material to be fed from either of two opposite directions of the wringer without the necessity of the reversal of the direction of rotation of the rolls. The pressure roll I0 is, in turn, frictionally driven through the medium of the pressure roll II.

The requirement for clutches between the power mechanism and the wringer is eliminated by the release mechanisms. Whenever either the manual or the automatic release is operated, the gear II1, which is carried by the shaft 29 of the pressure roll is carried out of mesh with the driving gear IIS, thereby breaking the driving connection to all of the wringer rolls.

The springs 18, which maintain the auxiliary rolls in contact with their respective pressure rolls, are comparatively light to eliminate danger to the operator when the fingers are caught between a pressure roll and its associated auxiliary roll. I therefore nd it convenient to gear the two auxiliary rolls together, as by gears |20, so that each auxiliary roll may be driven at all times through the other auxiliary roll, which will be in direct frictional contact with its respective pressure roll, while the former auxiliary roll will be in contact with its respective pressure roll only through the medium of the material being fed therebetween. I nd that such an arrangement greatly aids in proper feeding of the material betw'een the auxiliary rolls and their respective pressure rolls with a minimum amount of pressure between such rolls. This, of course, is highly desirable, as it greatly adds to the safety of the wringer.

I find it advantageous to provide a take-off guide or stripper member for each pressure roll to prevent material being ejected from the wringer, from following the. circumference of the pressure rolls. Suchguides are best shown in Figs. 1 and '7, and comprise curved plates |30 pivoted adjacent the uppersurface of the frame cap 23 as at |3I and'having downwardly projecting edges |34 which are normally held in engagement with their respective pressure rolls by suitaable tension springs |35, one end of each of which is secured to its respective guide and the other to a pin carried by the cap member 23.

I also provide a deflector member to positively guide the ejected material toward the face of the wringer opposite the face from which the material is being fed. To this end I provide a plate-like member |40, which is pivoted as at |4| above and substantially in line` with the bite of the pressure rolls I0 and This deflector plate is so arranged that it may be swung about its pivot from the position shown In full lines in Fig. 7 to the position shown in dotted lines, thereby causing the material which is stripped from the roll I0 or I I to follow the deflector plate and be guided thereby to the side of the wringer opposite the side into which the material is being fed.

I likewise find it desirable to arrange my improved wringer so that when material is fed from one side of the wringer, the opening in the frame on the opposite side will be closed, to prevent the material which has been wrung from again entering the wringer structure and being caught between the rolls on the opposite side. To this end I provide a pair of plate-like members |50, each of which is shaped to close the respective openings |5| in the sides of the wringer through which the material is fed to the roll. The plates |50 are pivoted as at |52 to the wringer frame and are connected by respective links |53 to opposite ends of a drain board |60, in such a manner that one plate |50 will be in position to close the opening in one side of the wringer, while the other plate will be swung about its pivot to a position exposing the opening on that side of the wringer. The plates or guard members |50 are operatively swung to expose either side of the wringer by the drainboard |60, as will be hereinafter more fully described.

The drainboard |60 is primarily provided to divert the water, being wrung from the materials, l

toward that side of the wringer into which such materials are being fed, and return such water or liquid to the tub, in connection with which the wringer is being used. As shown in Fig. 7, the bottom wall of the wringer frame I5 is provided with a centrally disposed longitudinally extending opening |6|, through which the waste liquid passes from 'the frame. To facilitate the passage of this waste liquid, the bottom walls |62 of the frame I5 slope towards the opening IBI.

'I'he drain board is positioned below the opening IBI and arranged to selectively divert the water which passes through the opening to either side of the wringer, as desired. As shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 7, the drain board comprises a plate-like trough |60, which extends, longitudinally' from one end of the opening |6| to the other and transversely to points beyond both outer faces of the wringer. The drain board is provided at its ends with upturned flanges |63, through which passes'a rod |64 carried by the frame I5, thus providing a pivoted mounting for the drain board, whereby it may be swung to divert the water either to the right, as shown in Fig. 7, or to the left, as desired.

A suitable latch mechanism may be provided to retain the drainboard in its adjusted position. As shown in Fig. '1, suitable knobs |10 are pressed outwardly from the side flanges |63 of the drain board and are arranged to engage depressions |1| formed in end frame members |12. The resiliency of the material permits ready engagement and disengagement of the latch members by the depressing or raising of the drain board by the operator..

Asheretofore mentioned, the guard members boardis positioned, as shown in Fig'. 7, to divert the waste liquid to the right-hand side of the wringer, the guard plate l50 on the right-hand side of the wringer is open.

When the position of the drain board is reversed, that is, rocked to divert the watertoward theleft-hand side of -the wringer, the positions of the guard plates |50 will also be reversed, the left-hand guard being opened and the righthand guard being closed. This mechanism prev vents the operator from thoughtlessly' failing to properly position the drain board and permit the water to fall to the floor, rather than return to the tub, as material cannot be fed tothe wringer unless the drain board is positioned to divert the'waste water toward the feeding side of the wringer.

From the foregoing description, it will be seen that I have provided an eiiicient wringing mechanism which eliminates the multiplicity of controls, such as clutches, reverse gears, etc., found' I have likewise con-v in the ordinary wringer. structed my improved wringer in such a manner as to render it safe for unskilled operation, and

frame, means to'maintain crie edge oi each of said stripper members in Contact with respective pressure rolls, a deflector plate pivotally mounted 'in said frame and having one edge thereof arranged to be swung into engagement with, either of said' members, whereby material is stripped from either of said rolls and is diverted to either side of the wringer as desired.

2. In a wringer, a pair of pressure rolls having an upwardly extending bite, a pair oi. stripper members, resilient means to maintain said stripper members in contact with their respective rolls, a deflector plate pivotally mounted on an axis lying in a vertical plane passing between and substantially parallel with the lines of contact of said stripper members with their respectiverolls, said deiiector` plate extending downwardly below its pivot and arranged to be swung into position with its lower edge adjacent either stripper member desired, whereby material may be selectively diverted to either lside of the wringer.

3. A frame having openings in oppite side walls, a pair of pressurel rolls mounted in said frame, means to guide material fed through the opening in either of said walls into the bite of said rolls, meansI cooperating with said walls respectively to selectively close the openings therein, and means coacting with said last-named means to maintain the opening in one of said walls open when the opening in the other of said walls is closed.

4. In a wringer, a frame including a pair of opposing side walls having openings therein, a pair of pressure rolls mounted in said frame with their axes in substantially the same horizontal plane, means carried by said frame to guide material fed through the opening in either of said side walls into the bite of the pressure rolls, a movable closure for each of said openings, Qmeans' interconnecting said closure means to move one of said closures to close the opening in the one of said walls on the opposite side of the wringer from which clothes are to vbe fed and simultaneously maintain the other closure bites projecting towardsopposite sides of said frame, lwhereby material `may be f ed into said wringer from either of said opposite sides of said frame, means movably carriedby said frame to selectively block respective horizontal bites to prevent material from entering either of said horizontal bites as desired.

6. A wringer comprising a'main frame including a top wall, and a pair of substantially vertical side walls, each of said walls having a longitudinally extending opening therein, a` pair of coacting pressure rolls having an upwardly extending bite mounted in said frame with said bite beneath the opening in said top wall, a pair of auxiliary rolls mounted in said frame and positioned substan-l tially below respective pressure rolls, resilient means acting to maintain said auxiliary rolls in contact with their respective pressure rolls, thereby providing horizontal bites extending toward the openings in respective side frames, and means whereby material can only be fed into one horizontal bite at a time.

7. In a wringer, a frame having openings in its opposite sides, a pair of pressure rolls mounted in said frame to receive material from either of said opposite sides thereof as desired, a drainboard 'mounted on said frame to be tilted downwardly `towards either of said opposite sides to divert water to either side of the wringer as desired, and means connected to said drainboard to close the opening in the side wall of the frame opposite the side toward which said drainboard is tilted to drain liquid coming from the wringing operation.

, 8. A wringer comprising` a main frame including a top wall and a pair of substantially vertical side walls, each of said walls having an opening therein, a pair of coacting, pressure rolls having an upwardly extending bite mounted in said frame with said bite beneath. the opening in said top wall, a pair of auxiliary rolls mounted in said frame and positioned substantially below respective pressure rolls, resilient means acting to maintain said auxiliary rolls in contact with their respective pressure rolls to provide a horizontal bite extending toward the opening in respective side walls, means to close the openings in said side walls, a drain4 board pivotally mounted below said auxiliary rolls, and means interconnecting said closure means with said drainboard to close l the opening in one side wall and remove the closure from the opening in the other side wall when the drainboard is tipped to drain toward the last mentioned side wall.

from said upwardly extending bite toward opposite faces of the wringer as desired, and means to deect the liquid wrung from such material toward either face of the wringer as desired.

10. In a wringer, a main frame, a cover pivotally connected to said frame, a pressure roll carried by said cover and extending downwardly into said main frame, a second pressure roll pivotally carried by said main frame, means to maintain said cover in position on said main frame and thereby position the axes of said rolls and the last-named pivot in' substantially the same horizontal plane.

11. In a wringer, a main frame, a cover hinged to said frame, a pressure roll pivotally carried by said main frame and spring pressed toward the hinge, a second pressure roll carried by said cover and extending downwardly into said main frame, between the hinge and the first-mentioned roll; and releasable means t maintain said cover in position on said main frame.

l2. In a wringer, a main frame, a member pivotally mounted on said main frame, a pressure roll carried by bearings with said pivoted member, a second pressure roll carried by bearings pivotally connected to said main frame, releasable means to maintain said member in position on said main frame, and means to prevent the swinging of said last-named pressure roll about its pivot when said member is so maintained.

13. In a wringer, a main frame having an open top, a cover member pivotally mounted on said main frame to substantially close the top thereof, a pressure roll carried by bearings rigid with said pivoted cover, a second pressure` roll carried by bearings pivotally connected to said main frame, releasable means to maintain said cover in position on said main frame, means to prevent the swinging of said last-named pressure roll when said cover is closed, said means being positioned to maintain said pivoted roll susbtantially in a horizontal plane passing through `the axis of said first-named pressure roll and resilient means to vurge said last-named roll into contact with the Afirst-named roll.

14. In a wringer, a main frame, having an open top, a cover member having an opening in its upper face pivotally mounted on said main frame to substantially close the top thereof, a pressure roll carried by bearings rigid with said pivoted cover, a second pressure roll carried by bearings pivotally connected to said main frame, means to prevent the swinging of said last-named pressure roll when said cover is closed, said means being positioned to maintain said pivoted roll substantionally in a horizontal plane passing through the axis of said nrst-named pressure roll whereby an upwardly extending bite is provided, resilient means to urge said last-named roll into contact with the iirst-named roll, and means carried by said frame and resiliently urged into contact with said pressure rolls to guide material fed from opposite vertical faces of said frame into the bite of said rolls.

15. In a wringer, a main frame having an opening in one wall thereof, a cover member for said wall, said cover being pivotally mounted on said main frame to substantially close said opening, a pressure roll carried by said pivoted cover, a shaft integral with said roll, a gear on said shaft, a second pressure roll carried by said main frame, releasable means to maintain said cover in position on said main frame, a gear carried by said main frame and meshing with said iirst-named gear when said cover is closed and separated from said first-named gear when the cover is open, power means to drive the second-named gear,

whereby when said cover is opened the driving connection to said roll is broken.

16. In a wringer, a frame, apressure roll carried thereby, a second pressure roll, contacting with said rst-named roll, bearings for said lastnamed roll, a pair of arms connected at one end to said bearings and connected adjacent their other ends to said frame, each of said arms comprising two interconnected members, one of said members being slidable relative to the other member, means to limit the sliding movement of said members, and resilient means acting to lengthen said arms and thereby resiliently maintain said rolls in contact with each other.

17. In a wringer, a main frame, a cover pivotally connected to said frame, a pressure roll carried by bearings rigid with said cover and extending downwardly into said main frame, a second pressure roll, bearings for said last-named roll, a pair of arms connected at one end to said bearings and pivoted adjacent their other ends to the main frame, each of said arms comprising two members, one slidable relative to the other, means to limit the sliding movement of said arms, resilient means acting to lengthen said arms, the pivots for said arms being substantially in the horizontal plane passing through the axis of the first-named pressure roll, a stop to limit the downward movement of said arms, means carried by said cover to normally maintain said pivoted roll in its lowermost position, said stop arranged to maintain the axis of said pivoted roll above said horizontal plane, the axis of the rst-named roll and the axis of said pivot being spaced apart a distance less than the maximum length of said arms plus the radius of each of said rolls, and a releasable means to maintain said cover in engagement with said main frame,

whereby, when said last-named means is released, said resilient means acts to open said cover.

18. In a wringer, a frame having an opening, a cover for said opening, a pair of pressure rolls in said frame, a guide carried in said frame and positioned to coact with one of said pressure rolls to provide a bite therewith, means to permit said guide to move away from said pressure rolls when an excess thickness of clothing is fed to the bite therebetween and means operated by said separating movement to open said cover.

19. In a wringer, a pair of pressure rolls disposed in the same substantially horizontal plane, power means to drive said rolls, an auxiliary roll disposed adjacent and normally in contact with one of the pressure rolls and separable therefrom, wherein the work passes rst between such auxiliary roll and its associated pressure roll and then between the two pressure rolls, and means acting upon a predetermined separation between the auxiliary roll and its coacting pressure roll to stop the rotation of both the pressure rolls.

20. In a wringer, a pair of pressure rolls disposed in a substantially horizontal plane, power means to drive said rolls, means to guide clothes into the bite of said pressure rolls from either side of the wringer, means to urge said guide means toward said pressure rolls and means acting upon movement of said guide means away from either pressure roll to stop the rotation of both the pressure rolls.

21. In a wringer, a frame, a member pivotally carried by said frame, a pressure roll carried by said member, a second pressure roll carried by said frame, said rolls being adapted to coact to Wring material, resilient means to urge said rolls together, means to lock said rolls in coacting relation, one of said rolls being positioned when coacting with the other to lie slightly without a plane passing through the pivot of said member and the axis of the other roll, whereby when said locking means is released said resilient means acts to rock said member about its pivot.

22. In a wringer, the combination of a pair of pressure rolls, a pair of supplemental rolls, resilient means to cause relative movement between the supplemental rolls and their respective pressure rolls to cause a contact between the supplemental rolls andtheir respective pressure rolls, a power operable mechanism, a separable connection between said mechanism and said pressure rolls to normally rotate both of said rolls,

and means to separate said connection to interrupt the application of power to said rolls consequent upon a predetermined separation between either supplemental roll and its associated pressure roll.

23. In a wringer, a pair of pressure rolls, feeding means to feed' material into the bite of said pressure rolls, said feeding means and one of said I pressure rolls being arranged for relative yielding movement toward each other, a power operable device, a power connecting member adapted to selectively couple said device to the pressure rolls to cause them to be rotated, and means actuated by a predetermined separation between said feeding means and its coacting pressure roll to -uncouple the power connecting member from said wringer rolls.

24. In a wringer, a pair of pressure rolls mounted in substantially the same horizontal plane, a power operable driving mechanism, a separable dri-ving connection between said mech- -anism and one of said pressure rolls, means to guide material from the side of the wringer into the bite of the two pressure rolls, wherein the material passes upwardly between the coacting pressure rolls,.and means to separate' said driving connection consequent uponl the passing of a predetermined thickness of material to the guiding means.

425. In a wringer, a pair of coacting pressure rolls, a pair of auxiliary rolls, each auxiliary roll being normally in contact with its corresponding pressure roll and separable therefrom, whereby the work passes first between an auxiliary roll and associated pressure roll, and then between the two pressure rolls, and means acting upon a predetermined separation between an auxiliary roll and its associated pressure roll to automatically cause the pressure between'the auxiliary rolls and`their pressure rolls Ito be relieved.

26. In a wringer adapted `to receive clothes from either side, a pair of coacting pressure rolls, a pair of auxiliary rolls, each auxiliary roll being normally in contact with its corresponding pressure roll and separable therefrom, whereby the 1work passes first between an auxiliary roll and its coacting pressure roll and separable therefrom, and means whereby a predetermined amount of separation between the auxiliary roll and its associated pressure -roll will cause the supplementary frame to swing about its pivot.

28. In a wringer, the combination of a main frame, a supplementary frame pivotally secured to the main frame, a pressure roll'mounted in the main frame, a second pressure roll mounted inthe supplementary frame and adapted to coact with the rst-named roll, resilient means adapted to retain the two rolls in contact with each other, a pair of auxiliary rolls mounted below the pressure roll and normallyA retained in contact therewith, a latch to retain the auxiliary frame guide at their ends, and resilient means to support the bearing members in such manner that the rolls and guide may move substantially as a unit and substantially universally relative to the pressure rolls.

30. In a wring-er, the combination with a frame,v

of a pair of pressure` rolls, an auxiliary roll adapted to coact with one of said pressure rolls, a guide adapted to guide the work from between a pressure roll and the auxiliary roll into the bite of the two pressure rolls, a mounting for said auxiliary roll and said g'uide, resilient means disposed between said mounting and said frame and adapted to retain the auxiliary roll in contact with one of the pressure rolls, said guide having two edges adapted to coact with the auxiliary roll and one of the pressure rolls respectively, and means whereby the auxiliary roll and the guide may rock as a unit in two directions, the planes of said movements being substantially normal to each other. v

31. In a wringer, the combination of a pair of pressure rolls, an auxiliary roll contacting with one of the' pressure rolls, a vrigid guide disposed adjacent the, rolls, a pair of rigid bearing members supporting the auxiliary' roll, resilient means to support the bearing members, whereby the auxiliary roll may move substantially universally relative to the pressure rolls, and means adapted .to be acted on by the bearing member to relieve. l

- of a pair of pressure rolls, a pair of auxiliary rolls disposed beneath and adapted to coact with one of said'pressure rolls respectively, a rigid guide adapted to-guide the work from between a pressure roll and an auxiliary roll to the pressure rolls, a mounting for said auxiliary rolls and said guide, resilient means disposed between said mounting and said frame and adapted to retain the auxiliary rolls in contact with the pressure rolls, said guide having three edges, one edge adapted to coact with each supplemental roll respectively, the other edge adapted to coact with the pressure rolls, wherein the supplemental rolls and the guide may rock as a unit in two directions, the planes of said movements being substantially Vnormal to each other, and means to restrain the movement of the supplemental rolls in a plane parallel to a plane passing through the axis of each pressure roll.

33. In a wringer, the combination with a pair of pressure rolls, of a frame carrying one of the pressure rolls and mounted on an axis parallel with the rolls and pivoted eccentrically thereof, resilient means tending to press the rolls together, an auxiliary roll adapted to coact with one of the pressure rolls, said auxiliary roll so arranged that its surface may be moved away from such pressure roll, and means acting automatically upon a predetermined separation of said rolls to release said frame carrying one of the pressure rolls.

34. In a wringer, a main frame, a pair of supplemental frames pivotally carried by the main frame, a pressure roll rotatably mounted on each supplemental frame, resilient means to cause one pressure roll to contact with the other pressure roll and normally acting to cause one supplemental frame to rock about its respective pivot, and a latch mechanism normally acting to restrain the supplemental frame against movement due to the action of said resilient means.

35. In a wringer, a main frame, a pressure roll carried thereby, a supplemental frame pivotally secured to the main frame, a second pressure roll mounted in the supplemental frame, an auxiliary roll arranged to normally contact with the pressure roll and separable therefrom, resilient means acting to rock the supplemental frame about its pivot, a pair of bell crank latch members disposed at opposite ends of the main frame and arranged to engage the supplemental frame to retain it against movement about its pivot, each of said latch members being responsive to a predetermined separation between the auxiliary roll and its pressure roll to release the supplemental frame, and means interconnecting said latches to cause the simultaneous release of the supplemental frame. y

36. In a wrlnger, the combination of a frame, a pair of pressure rolls mounted in a horizontal plane in said frame, resilient means adapted to retain the pressure rolls in contact withl each other, an independent auxiliary roll associated with and beneath each of the pressure rolls, said auxiliary rolls being spaced apart from each other, resilient means adapted to retain the auxiliary rolls in contact with their respective pressure rolls, a rigid guide member disposed between the four rolls and wherein the work may be fed from either side of the frame between one pressure roll and one auxiliary roll, thereafter guided into the bite of the two pressure rolls and ejected from the wringer.

37. In a wringer, the combination of a pair of pressure rolls, a pair of auxiliary rolls contacting with the pressure rolls respectively, a guide in the form of a ridge projecting toward the pass of the pressure rolls, a pair of rigid bearing blocks supporting the guide at its ends and carrying the journals for the two auxiliary rolls, and springs for supporting the two rigid bearing blocks, whereby an auxiliary roll and the guide may be moved as a unit.

38. In a wringer, the combination of a pair of pressure rolls, a pair of auxiliary rolls beneath and contacting with the pressure rolls respectively, a guide in the form of a ridge projecting toward the pass of the pressure rolls and with its outer edges adjacent to the periphery of the auxiliary rolls, and devices for carrying the two auxiliary rolls and the ridge-guide as a unit and preserving them in a fixed relation to each other. and means for yieldingly supporting said devlees.

39. In a wringer, the combination of a pair oi pressure rolls, an auxiliaryroll contacting wthone of thepressure rolls, a'concave guide located adjacent said auxiliary roll and the corresponding pressure roll and having a concave surface substantially parallel with one of the pressure rolls, and rigid means connecting the guide and the journal of said auxiliary roll and yieldingly supporting them independently of the pressure rolls so that the guide and auxiliary roll may move bodily away from the corresponding pressure roll.

40. In a wringer, the combination of a pair of pressure rolls, a pair of auxiliary rolls respectively contacting with the pressure rolls,l a concave guide located in the region between the auxiliary rolls and the pressure rolls and having a concave surface substantially parallel with one ofthe pressure rolls, and rigid means connecting the guide and thejournals of the auxiliary rolls and yieldingly supporting them so that the guide and auxiliary rolls may move bodily away from the corresponding pressure roll.

41. In a wringer, the combination of a frame, a pair of pressure rolls mounted in said frame, resilient means adapted to retain the pressure rolls in contact with each other, an independent auxiliary roll associated with each pressure roll, resilient means adapted to retain the auxiliary rolls in contact with their respective pressure rolls, and a guide member disposed between the four rolls and lying against the auxiliary rolls, and wherein the work may be fed from either side of the frame, between one pressure roll and one auxiliary roll and thereafter guided into the bite of the pressure roll and ejected from theI the pass of the pressure rolls, a pair of rigid bear-` ing blocks supporting the guide at its end and carrying the journals of the two auxiliary rolls,.

and springs for supporting the two rigid bearing blocks, whereby an auxiliary roll and the guide may be moved as a unit.

43. In a wringer, a pair of pressure rolls disposed in a substantially horizontal plane, power means to drive said rolls, means to guide clothes into the bite of said pressure rolls from either side of the Wringer, means to urge said guide means and said pressure rolls together, and means acting upon movement of said guide means away from either pressure roll to relieve the pressure between the pressure rolls.

44. In a wringer, a pair of pressure rolls disposed in a substantially horizontal plane, power means to drive said rolls, means to guide said clothes into the bite of said pressure roll from either side of the wringer, means tourge said guide means and said pressure roll together, and means acting upon movement of said guide means away from either pressure roll to stop the rotation of a pressure roll.

45. In a wringer, the combination of a frame, a pair of pressure rolls, a pair of auxiliary rolls, a pair of end members movably mounted in the frame and arranged to support said auxiliary rolls, a guide disposed between the four rolls and carried by said end members, and a pair of springs mounted in said frame and arranged to support respective end members between the axes of said auxiliary roll.

46. In a wringer, a frame, a pair o1.' pressure rolls mounted in a substantially horizontal plane to said frame, a pair of auxiliary rolls disposed beneath and normally in contact with respective pressure rolls, the axes of each 'auxiliary roll being in a substantially vertical plane passing through the axis of the respective pressure rolls, said auxiliary rolls adapted to contact with their respective pressure rolls substantially throughout the entire length of the pressure roll, a guide disposed between the four rolls and adapted to strip clothes from the auxiliary roll, means to rotate the pressure roll and wherein the work is passed rst between either auxiliary roll and its associated pressure roll and then between the two pressure rolls, and is ejected from substantially the top of the wringer without reversing the direction of rotation of any of said rolls.

CHARLES B. WILLIAMS. 

